[ Location: Land of Fire - Northern Border Forest ][ Date: Naruto Timeline - Sasuke Retrieval Arc ]
The transition wasn't smooth. It felt like being sucked through a straw made of sandpaper.
I materialized fifty feet in the air.
"Whoa!" I flailed, my arms windmilling.
I looked down.
Trees.
Huge trees.
The kind that make redwoods look like bonsai.
'Telekinesis: Flight.'
[ Ability Active. ]
I caught myself, slowing my descent until I landed softly on a branch thick enough to park a car on.
I looked down at my feet. My Italian leather dress shoes were sinking into the damp, mossy bark.
"Seriously?" I muttered, dusting off my charcoal suit jacket. "I just got these polished. Now where to find him"
I took a breath.
The air hit my lungs like a physical weight. It was dense. Heavy.
'This isn't oxygen. This is Chakra. The atmosphere is saturated with it.'
It made my Magic Core hum.
'No, Its more of Energy core now'
It felt... powerful.
Like breathing liquid Red Bull.
Below me, I heard a sound.
A flute. A haunting, discordant melody that made my teeth ache.
I peered through the leaves.
Shikamaru Nara was crouched behind a tree root, clutching his left hand. His finger was bent at a sickening angle. He looked exhausted, his vest torn, dirt smeared across his face.
And stalking toward him was Tayuya.
She had red hair, a flute, and an attitude problem. Three massive, grotesque demons—the Doki—were lumbering behind her, drooling.
Tayuya raised the flute to her lips.
'Genjutsu. Sound-based paralysis. Nasty stuff.'
She took a breath to play.
'Not on my watch. I don't have earplugs, so I'll just hit the mute button.'
I pointed my wand.
"Silencio!"
A jet of invisible magic hit her.
Tayuya blew into the flute.
Hard.
Her cheeks puffed out.
Nothing happened. No sound. Just the quiet whoosh of air.
She blinked. She blew again, harder. Still nothing. She looked at the flute like it had personally insulted her. She shook it. She tapped it against her leg.
The three Doki demons stopped. They looked at each other, confused. One scratched its head with a massive claw.
I dropped from the branch, landing silently next to Shikamaru.
"You're late," Shikamaru wheezed, not looking up. "And... why do you smell like expensive perfume?"
"It's called 'formal wear', Shika," I said, straightening my tie. "I was about to close a business deal. You look terrible, by the way. Is that dirt or just your personality manifesting?"
Shikamaru looked up. His eyes widened at my suit. "You came to a ninja fight dressed like a civilian merchant?"
"I aim to impress." I grinned.
Tayuya realized her flute was broken (it wasn't, she was just muted). She screamed—but no sound came out. It was hilarious. She looked like a silent film villain having a tantrum.
She threw the flute down and glared at us. Her skin began to darken. Black markings spread across her face. Horns sprouted from her forehead.
[ System Alert: Enemy Power Spike. Curse Mark Level 2. ]
"She's mad," I noted.
"She's going Level 2," Shikamaru warned, struggling to stand. "Her physical stats just tripled. Watch out!"
Tayuya charged. She moved faster than a human eye could track.
'Agility 70+. I'm only at 35. I can't dodge that.'
I raised my hand.
'Telekinesis: Shield.'
[ Ability Active. ]
She punched the air in front of me.
CRACK.
My invisible shield fractured instantly. The force of her punch sent a shockwave through my mind.
'Ow. Okay. Chakra hits different. It resonates with my shield and it feels... heavy.'
But it held. Barely.
Tayuya recoiled, shaking her hand. She looked confused. She tried to yell "What the hell is this?" but only mouthed the words silently.
"She hits harder than a Troll," I grunted, blood tickling my nose. "I can't out-punch her."
"Genjutsu?" Shikamaru suggested.
"Better," I smirked. "Psychological warfare."
I focused on Tayuya.
'Illusion: Level 2.'
[ Ability Active: Visual Projection. ]
I dI projected an image behind her.
A tall, pale figure with long black hair and snake-like eyes. Arms crossed. Looking very, very disappointed.
Orochimaru.
Tayuya froze. Her eyes went wide with pure terror. She stumbled back, dropping to her knees.
"L-Lord Orochimaru?!" she mouthed.
"Gotcha," I whispered.
'Gravity Well.'
[ Ability Active: Telekinesis (Max Output). ]
I crushed her.
I increased the gravity around her body by tenfold.
WHAM.
Tayuya slammed face-first into the dirt. The ground cracked under her. She couldn't move a muscle. She was pinned by the weight of the atmosphere.
"Sit," I said, walking over. "Stay like a good dog."
I tapped her temple with a focused pulse of Telekinesis.
She slumped, unconscious. The Curse Mark receded.
"Show off," Shikamaru muttered, sliding down the tree trunk. "That was... troublesome."
"Efficient," I corrected.
I knelt beside him. "Let me see the finger."
He held up his hand. It was purple.
I reached into my pocket (Inventory).
I pulled out a vial of Phoenix Tears, diluted with water.
"Drink this," I said.
"What is it?" Shikamaru sniffed it. "It smells like orange."
"It's spicy orange juice. Just drink it."
He took a sip. "It tastes like..." Crack.
His finger snapped back into place.
The bruising vanished instantly.
"Whoa," Shikamaru flexed his hand. "Okay. Never mind. Can I have a gallon?"
"No, You can have this but"
"Expensive stuff."
I walked over to where Tayuya had dropped her flute. I picked it up. It was heavy, made of bone.
'Yosh.'
[ Item Acquired: Demonic Flute. ]
"Well," I said, dusting off my knees. "My work here is done. I have a clown to kill back in the 80s."
I turned to leave.
Ding!
[ Mission Update: Threat Neutralized. ][ New Objective: Escort Shikamaru Nara to Konoha. ][ Time Remaining: 5 Days (Local Time). ][ Barrier Status: Sealed. Teleportation Disabled. ]
I stopped.
I stared at the blue box.
"You have got to be kidding me," I groaned. "Five days? In a forest? I don't do camping, Shika. I do hotels. I do room service. Does this forest have a concierge?"
"It has bears," Shikamaru offered helpfully. "And enemy ninjas."
I sighed, rubbing my face. "Fine. Stuck in a war zone. Fantastic."
I looked at Shikamaru.
Then I looked at the trees.
A thought hit me.
'Wait. If I'm stuck here... I might as well learn something. This world runs on Chakra. Chakra is just Physical Energy + Spiritual Energy. I have massive Spiritual Energy (120). But my control sucks. That's why I get nosebleeds.'
'If I learn Chakra Control... I can stabilize my Psionics. I can do crazy stuff and control elements and do shadow clone jutsu etc.'
I turned to Shikamaru.
"Okay, Pineapple-head," I said. "I'll get you home. But you're paying me."
"I'm a Chunin," Shikamaru sighed. "I'm broke and Naruto owes me ramen money."
"Not money," I said. "Lessons. Teach me how to walk on trees."
Shikamaru blinked. "Tree walking? That's Academy stuff. First year basics. It's a drag to teach."
I reached into my pocket. I pulled out a King-Size Snickers bar (from the 1985 stash).
"I have snacks," I waved it. "Chocolate. Caramel. Peanuts. Not a ration pill in sight."
Shikamaru's eyes locked onto the wrapper.
"Class starts now," he said.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patreon Updates: Discount Code : F014B
(New Membership Option)
Content: Read 20+ chapters ahead. + Access to All my fanfictions.
Link: https://www.patreon.com/c/kapa69
Support Goal:
400 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter.
Please drop a Stone to support the story!